Special to the Herald

SPRINGFIELD – Kathy Candler is a prospector who doesn’t need a pick or a shovel. That’s because most of the valuable items that she searches for are buried in cyberspace.

Candler joined Effingham County government as a grant writer on Feb. 5. She drafts and submits proposals to public and private entities for grant funding on behalf of the Effingham County Board of Commissioners.

A grant is a way governments fund ideas and projects to provide public services and/or stimulate the economy.

“This job requires a lot of research,” said Candler, a former real estate marketer and office manager who has grant-writing experience. “There are a lot of different types of state grants, federal grants, private industry grants and charity grants that can be used to offset costs for (county) taxpayers. I spend a lot of time on the computer.”

Candler, a Guyton resident, scans the Internet and keeps in touch with state and federal legislators to learn about funds that might be available in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., respectively. She also maintains contact with grant writers in neighboring counties.

“For example, I will send information about grants that are intended for urban areas to Chatham County and they will send grants designed for more rural areas to me,” she said. “Building relationships like that is important.”

Candler's quest for grants extends into the business sector. She will ask new Effingham County industries to donate funds to support community enhancements.

“If anybody knows of grants available from their organization or someone they volunteer with, they can send it to me in an email (KCandler@effinghamcounty.org)," she said.

Before they are submitted, Candler’s grant applications have to be OK’d by the board of commissioners.

“They want to know up front if there is a match (requirement) – how much (the county) will have to pay (to get the grant),” she said. “Some of the grants are like a 60-40 match, a 70-30 match or an 80-20 match. An 80-20 match means that the county has to pay for only 20 percent and the grant pays the rest.”

Candler’s first application was approved Tuesday and submitted to the Georgia Department of Agriculture Feb. 23.

“It’s for the Effingham County Animal Shelter,” she said. “It’s to spay and neuter. A portion is to be used for animals before they are available for adoption and a portion is for helping lower-income residents spay or neuter their animals if they qualify for the shelter to help them.”

Candler plans to keep a tally of her grant successes on a whiteboard in her office. She is eager for the Dog and Cat Sterilization Grant to replace the “0” that is currently written on it.

“I’m excited about trying to save the taxpayers some money,” she said.